Happy Veterans Day! Today, we pause to honor the brave men and women who have served our country. To all our veterans in the GMSD community—thank you for your service, courage, and sacrifice.

Across our district, students had the privilege of celebrating alongside veterans, bringing to life the meaning of this important day through parades, choirs, bands, orchestras, and inspiring student and guest speakers. The halls were filled with patriotic music and students had the chance to honor their own favorite veterans by inviting them to join us at school.

As we reflect on why we celebrate Veterans Day, let’s take a moment to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy and the sacrifices made by those who served to protect them. To our veterans—your example leaves a lasting impact on our students, and we salute you today and every day.

With gratitude,

Jason Manuel,

Superintendent

>>For more event photos and links to live streamed Veterans Day programs, be sure you are following your school and the district on social media!

Favorite photos from Riverdale's I Love America Day community favorite, Parade of States.

Favorite Photos from Forest Hill's Veterans Day Program; View the livestream of their program.

Favorite Photos of our Houston Middle School Band and Orchestra who took their patriotic music on the road across the district on Veterans Day; View the livestream of their program.

Favorite Photos from Dogwood's Celebration of Veterans.

Favorite Photos from Farmington's Veterans Day Recognition & Parade.

Mark your calendars for an upcoming event on Wednesday, Dec. 11—our GMSD Parent Academy: Vaping Me Crazy! Join us for an evening session designed to equip parents and guardians with actionable solutions to one of today's most pressing issues facing our youth: vaping.

>>Just click the link below to let us know you're coming. We’re asking parents to RSVP so we can plan accordingly for seating and materials. Your response will help us ensure we have everything ready for a successful and informative event!

Last Tuesday, GMSD AP Government students took their learning beyond the classroom by participating in live exit polling as part of Election Day activities. Through rigorous training and vetting by the Shelby County Election Commission, students learned the ins and outs of conducting accurate and respectful exit polls, a method of gathering data from voters immediately after they cast their ballots. Five precincts in Germantown opened their doors to our students, who gathered data that reflected the pulse of the community.

These students shared their findings in an impressive 8-hour live broadcast from the high school's GMTV studio. The broadcast included exclusive one-on-one interviews with local Germantown candidates, giving viewers insights into the election process and candidates’ perspectives.

According to AP Government student Campbell Poor’s report, the students' predictions were impressively accurate, with an average polling error margin of just 3.6%. This experience didn’t just serve the citizens of Germantown by providing timely election insights—it also offered an invaluable lesson in civic engagement. Through this hands-on project, our students gained a deeper understanding of the democratic process and the importance of informed citizenship, reinforcing the ideals of active, responsible participation in our community.

Last week, a new task force comprising Houston High School's Office of College and Career, GMSD, the Germantown Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Germantown held its first meeting to lay the groundwork for an exciting initiative aimed at preparing high school seniors for the future. This collaborative team is planning a "Future-Ready" day, where seniors will engage in a hands-on conference focused on developing essential workplace soft skills. Sessions will cover topics such as how to interview, how to be a great employee, among many others the group is workshopping.

In addition to the conference, seniors will have the opportunity to participate in job-shadowing experiences with local businesses, gaining real-world insights and connections within the Germantown community.

Stay tuned! Sign-ups for local businesses to participate in this new program will go live by the end of the month. This is a great chance for our community to support the next generation and help them gain the skills they need for career success.

Catch all the excitement from Houston High's unforgettable Senior Night. The evening included a big football win over Collierville, honoring our amazing seniors from the football team, cheerleading squad, pom squad, and band, and we celebrated the Girls' Soccer Team's incredible achievement as State Champions! Watch the highlights and relive the moments that made this night one for the books!

On Tuesday, our teachers participated in District Learning Day, focusing on topics like individualizing student instruction, ACT training, and school safety. This was a chance for them to share knowledge within their Professional Learning Communities. They also kicked off November with a district-wide event to show gratitude—this year with a pumpkin twist.

While the students were out of the building on Election Day, our district partnered with the Germantown Police Department for new, live gunfire simulation training at various locations, designed to prepare staff for emergency scenarios. We are proud to continue going above and beyond to offer the very best in school safety, ensuring that our staff is prepared.

This week, we honor the incredible work of our school psychologists who play an important role in supporting our students' academic and behavioral well-being. These specially licensed professionals bring an exceptional level of expertise, completing more than 60 hours of graduate credits and a 1,200-hour internship to become experts in the field.

Our school psychologists provide services that include special education support, behavioral interventions, mental health support, and academic assistance. Through data collection, assessment, and progress monitoring, they collaborate with educators and parents to develop tailored strategies that ensure every student has the resources they need to thrive.

Send a shoutout to your favorite GMSD staffers with four ready-made templates: The MVP, You Are Appreciated, Top Notch Customer Service, and Someone Wants to Celebrate You! Simply select the staff member you want to recognize, type your positive feedback in the text box, and be specific about what they did that impressed you or made a difference. Choose to leave your name or remain anonymous. Once your Gratitude Gram is approved, the recipient receives an email with your message and an attached, easily printable graphic they can proudly display. Take a moment to spread some appreciation today!

The Houston High Theater Department spent the later part of last week and the weekend performing their play, Alice in Wonderland to audiences--and if you are worried you missed it--you have ONE MORE CHANCE to catch the show this evening. Written and directed by Kell Christie, the production features fantastic masks, puppets and lively music, making it a perfect show for audiences of all ages—from kindergarteners to adults. Pictured above, a Farmington Kindergarten class interact with the cast following a matinee performance last week.

The final performance begins at 7:00 p.m., TONIGHT, Monday, November 11. Bring your family and friends and get ready to follow Alice down the rabbit hole for an unforgettable performance. For tickets, click here.

Attention GMSD students! The Germantown Municipal Council (GMC) PTO is excited to announce that this year's Art and Writing Contest is now officially live! This year’s theme, “What Are Your Big Dreams?”, invites students from all grade levels to showcase their creativity and share their dreams through art and writing.

The contest offers two main categories: Art and Writing. Students can choose to participate in either category, or both, but can only submit one entry per category. Each submission requires a completed entry form attached to the back of the artwork or included with the writing piece. Digital art files must also be emailed to GMCPTOContest@gmail.com. For specific submission locations at each school, refer to the contest flyer or check with your school's designated drop-off area.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONTEST HERE.

Fall sports have come to a close, except for our varsity football team. After a huge win over Dickson County in the first round of the playoffs, the Mustangs are rolling into round two. This week, we host once again as we take on the Bartlett Panthers. Be there to cheer on these Mustangs this Friday night at 7:00 p.m. at Landers Ford Stadium! Winter sports are gearing up, and varsity wrestling was the first to get things started at home. This past Saturday, they hosted their King of the Mat preseason tournament, and they will officially kick things off in a couple of weeks. Varsity swimming has also kicked off their season with a strong start, and this Thursday, they have a meet at St. George’s at 6:00 p.m. Girls varsity basketball start their season tomorrow night at home with preseason scrimmage night, and they will continue their preseason work this weekend in Jackson, TN. Go Mustangs!

Meet your November Athlete of the Month Nominees! Read what coaches have to say about these student athletes and their incredible work ethic both in athletics and in the classroom, and be sure to cast your vote! Voting is set to close Tuesday, November 26 at Noon.

November High School nominees:

Zoe Beard - Senior, Cheer

Natali Carrion - Senior, Swim

Paige Cho - Freshman, Cheer

Alec Fisher - Senior, Swim

Garrett Hagan - Senior, Football

Donnell Yarbrough - Senior, Football

November Middle School nominees:

Corbin Downen - 8th Grade, Houston Middle School, Football

Dominic Gomez - 8th Grade, Houston Middle School, Football

Hayleigh Harkness - 8th Grade, Houston Middle School, Cheer

Lacey Huisman - 8th Grade, Houston Middle School, Cheer

Dane Pierce - 8th Grade, Houston Middle School, Football

Makenzie Young - 7th Grade, Riverdale, Cheer

Celebrate the Houston Mustangs' varsity girls' soccer state championship with exclusive merch! Show your Mustang pride and rep the team’s incredible undefeated season with this limited-edition gear.

Make sure that your senior registers with a non-GMSD email address in our Alumni Portal!

View a digital copy of our ALUMNI magazine.

The GERMANTOWN MSD app – Our school district in your pocket. Sync our calendar seamlessly across all your devices. Access student information, attendance, assignments, grades and more – all in one convenient place. Get a personalized feed tailored to your preferences. Choose your schools and news sources for a streamlined experience. Stay informed, stay connected – with the GERMANTOWN MSD app.

You can quickly download the NEW GMSD app to access all of these features. First, search for 'Germantown MSD' in your preferred app store (iOS or Google). As a parent or caregiver, you'll select 'App Login' to access your child's information. The login process includes a one-time passcode that connects to the cell phone or email you have listed in Skyward--so there's no passwords to learn or memorize! If you need assistance logging in, we are standing by to help.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/germantown-msd/id6446898026

Google: http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blackboard.community.gmsdk12

*If either of the two links above are not working, you can also find the app by searching Germantown MSD.